East Texas News Headlines 1/13

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators say low levels of fungicide in orange juice aren't enough to cause safety concerns. The Environmental Protection Agency says it won't order that juice be taken off store shelves. Coca-Cola says it informed the EPA about levels of car-bend-azim in its juice and that of its competitors.

Tyler, TX - 2012 will be a good solid year for Tyler" that according to economist Dr. Ray Perryman who presented his economic forecast during the 28th annual Tyler Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce quarterly membership luncheon. Dr. Perryman said the local economy will grow at a four percent annual rate. East Texas continues to see positive signs in economic growth fueled by the health care sector, education, and the states’ natural resources. Perryman also noted that retails sales are another positive sign the economy is coming slowly out of the recession.

Longview, TX - Authorities in Gregg County have identified a woman whose body was found off I-20. Investigators say the body is that of 39 year old Melisa Gonzalez of Longview, she was last seen Monday but a missing persons report was never filed. A hitchhiker walking along I-20 found her body near Estes Parkway and the interstate. The cause of Gonzalez death has not been determined at this time.

HOUSTON (AP) — Police say a Houston toddler who was missing for 15 hours after a stranger stole his mother's SUV with the child inside has been found unharmed. Houston police say 18-month-old Evan Montgomery Lamar Miller was still strapped in the backseat when the 1996 Jeep Cherokee was discovered Friday morning behind a strip mall about a block from the Walmart parking lot in Houston where the car was stolen. A police statement says Evan "appears to be fine." Evan's mother left the car's engine idling Thursday evening when she ran into the store to withdraw some money from an ATM. His 7-year-old cousin fled the SUV as a man climbed into the car and drove it away.

NEW BERN, N.C. (AP) — Three men face up to life in prison for joining a North Carolina group that federal agents say plotted terror attacks. The three men were convicted of providing material support to terrorists. Defense attorneys say the men should get lesser sentences because they were convicted of discussing terrorism, not carrying it out.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A new draft of Austin's proposed ban on disposable paper and plastic bags calls for the ban to begin in March of 2014. The city's solid waste director expects to have a final draft ready for the City Council by the end of the month. Council members could vote on the ban in March.

HONDO, Texas (AP) — Some iconic welcome signs outside the southwest Texas town of Hondo are back. The signs that were taken down in 2009 to accommodate a road-widening project declare, "This is God's Country — Please Don't Drive Through It Like Hell."

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The snow is so high in Alaska that some people can't see out of their windows. More than 172 inches of snow has fallen in Cordova since November. Anchorage has gotten more than twice as much snow as usual. Valdez (val-DEEZ') resident Kathryn Hawkins has 8-foot snow piles outside her home. But her 12-year-old son is having fun with it. He's been sliding off the roof into the yard.